GOLD01.THD --- Copyright 1988 by Phil Wheeler An original compilation of Compuserve Model 100 Forum messages for use by Forum members only. The Gold Card by SoundSight is one of the most exciting and promising peripherals for the 100/102 to come along. It offers large memory and new functionality for these computers. Production units are just beginning to be delivered. These messages discuss the Gold Card, and provide insights from someone with "inside information" into its operation and capabilities. Message range: 170390 to 170544 Dates: 6/20/88 to 6/23/88 Sb: #Gold RAM Expansion Fm: don hinkle 73776,2504 To: all I have uploaded a document explaiing in some detail my work with the new SoundSight GoldCard expanded RAM memory for the M100, in Library 13, called GOLD01.REV. If anyone has queries or responses I would be glad to respond to them and perhaps thereby rework the file, since I had to post it quicker than I thought I would. Fm: Denny Thomas 76701,40 To: don hinkle 73776,2504 I have one question after reading your file and I don't think you addressed this exactly: Can you edit a file larger than the M100's ram (28k)? That is the one thing that we've been hoping for in each and every one of the expansions that have come out. It was promised in the P.G. Design Vault - it not only doesn't edit large files, but crashes smaller ones. It wasn't promised in the Booster Pack (smart folks), but there have been rumblings that they are working towards it. It was promised in the Gold Card, but as I remember, not in the first issue. Any info on this? Fm: don hinkle 73776,2504 To: Denny Thomas 76701,40 Denny: As I understand it, you can build a data file, working through a Basic program, as big as the capacity of the RAM, and then file it off directly to cassette, but since I haven't done that, I didn't try to address it in my report. Fm: Denny Thomas 76701,40 To: don hinkle 73776,2504 Oh. I was hoping for the ability to just go into TEXT, type a filename, and start editing, no matter the size of file. The Vault method (in theory) is to bring in 7K chunks of the file and let you edit that, and if you hit arrow keys it would automatically bring in new chunks as needed, writing out to ram the old chunks. Oh well.... Fm: Mo Budlong 76167,3310 To: Denny Thomas 76701,40 The Gold Card Text Editor is in Beta Test right now. I have stood and watched over the programmer's shoulder as he edited searched, saved, and cut and pasted a 100K file. The editor works like TEXT, the cursor is placed over a file name of a file stored on the Gold Card. Pressing enter starts the Editor. The file size is limited by the size of the Card installed minus a little bit for house keeping. You can edit about a 500K file on a 512K Gold Card. The Editor is completely separate from TEXT but designed to work like it. Looks like it would be useful for things like loading legal documents and using the portable in a court room in search mode to look stuff up quickly. And of course anyone who want's to edit larger files. Fm: Denny Thomas 76701,40 To: Mo Budlong 76167,3310 Thanks for the info, Mo! You realize that if/when this large-file editor is released, it'll be a first for the M100. Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: Mo Budlong 76167,3310 That might make a very fast spelling checker-type file. Our 20,000 word dictionary in Library 9 is about 184K big. But might be useful for some users who do not also want to invest in a commercial spelling checker. Fm: don hinkle 73776,2504 To: Mo Budlong 76167,3310 Dear Mo, A query about the software for the GoldCard: is it possible to send a GoldCard file directly (without passing through the 100 memory) via TELCOM? Thanks. Fm: ChristopherFranceschelli 70721,2466 To: don hinkle 73776,2504 Don--it's great to finally have a report on the Goldcard--only thing is that I can't seem to locate the file in DL13. Did you happen to change the file's name to something other than GOLD.RAM. [Ed note: GOLD01.REV] I'm very curious to read what you have to say about the unit--especailly if you had a chance to test the RomEliminator. Fm: Mo Budlong 76167,3310 To: don hinkle 73776,2504 Hi Don, So far the hooks in the system that allow TELCOM to send from or receive to a device other than RAM have eluded me. I have not been able to include that feature. The new GoldText editor will allow you to open a .DO file on the GoldCard and Save To: COM:88n1e or any other comm line specification. Until this is available (real soon now I'm told), the only way to transfer a file is to load in down to RAM from the GoldCard and then transfer it the usual way using TELCOM. I have been lobbied to produce a feature in the GoldCard system that is a TELCOM like program that allows all the features of TELCOM but can transfer directly to and from the GoldCard. I am considering it, but haven't decided yet. I am tied up with a few other projects right now. Just read your article/review in VS News, we're still both writing for the same magazine. Fm: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 To: Mo Budlong 76167,3310 James Yi has developed a machine language assembler/disassembler/monitor that communicates with external devices; and he has also done some work along the lines of copying the ROM routines that comprise an internal "program", and modifying that for other purposes. It might be possible to "copy" TELCOM into RAM, modify it by installing the necessary hooks, adding device send/recieve, and using that instead of the internal TELCOM program. Might not be commercially viable because of copyrights, but on a personal basis, might be do-able. Fm: Mo Budlong 76167,3310 To: Tony Anderson 76703,4062 Tony, Thanks for the tip. I'll look into James' assembler. I have been using CPM's RMAC and LINK-80 for Model 100 development for so long now that I feel spoiled. This new ADSM set sounds interesting. Mo.